Cycle Road Race.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 243, 14 October 1933, Page 10

Cycle Road Race.

CAMBRIDGE TO PAPAKURA.

North Island Championship.— Professional Contest. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") CAMBRIDGE, this day. The annual professional cyclists' race for the North Island championship, from Cambridge to Fapakura, is being held to-day. It has again been promoted by the Auckland Cycle Club. A crowd gathered at the National Hotel this morning, when the lield of 48 riders was dispatched on the long journey, which will finish at Prince Edward Fark, Fapakura. Cyclists from all parts of the Dominion are taking part. The majority arc from Auckland, but there are several from Whakatane, Waliaroa, To Kuiti, Thames, Taumarunui, and other places, while J. A. Haigh is from Southland and A. N. Ralston from Otago. The competitors include several previous winners of the race.

This year the course is not so hard as previously, as the riders will use the new deviation at Mercer, emerging northward of Drury, and missing the Razorback hills, which have always proved a nightmare to competitors. There are few hills to negotiate, and the road is in fairly good order, except at several parts where loose gravel has piled up. Cash and trophies valued at £100 are offered in prizes, the first prize being £10 in cash and the Dunlop Challenge Cup and Clarke Cup. For the rider recording the fastest time there are £3 in cash, the John Bull Challenge Cup, a special cycle, and the championship blue riband and medallion.

The weather was fine but overcast when the limit men, Keid and Stewart, were dispatched at 11.18 a.m. The scratch men, Aberhart, Dowman, Mathieson and Ralston, left at noon, and were sent off with rousing cheers. There were only three non-starters, Fhilps, Ryan and Harrison.